Eleven months after the resignation of the Dutch government, nine months after the general elections, the Netherlands will finally have a government. However, it is the same parties that are resuming service (D66, CDA and ChristenUnie), under the rule of the same conductor, Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
With our regional correspondent, Pierre Bénazet
In theory, parliamentary groups could still ask for modifications to the coalition agreement when it is presented to them this Tuesday morning, December 14 in the Second Chamber of the States General. But in practice, after 271 trading days, there is little chance that a significant change will occur. The previous record of 225 trading days on the coalition program is broken by nearly a month and a half.
The leader of the liberal party Mark Rutte could therefore as of Thursday, December 16 go and present to King William-Alexander his new cabinet: a government with the same parties as in the previous coalition.
Personal victory for Mark Rutte
The coalition agreement focuses on heavy investments for housing and the climate, education and nurseries as well as certain new points such as nuclear research and road tolls.
Above all, it is again a personal victory for Mark Rutte. He had succeeded in March in bringing the Liberals to the top of the 17 parties elected to Parliament. But his renewal had been strongly questioning during these nine months of negotiations. Mark Rutte thus reinforces his image of stainless Prime Minister in the Netherlands. This should also further strengthen its position within the European Council.
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